Humpty Dumpty

I have to admit I have never seen Humpty Dumpty, the Pantomime before so I was really looking forward to seeing this version by Halifax YMCA Panto Society’s production of it, and I wasn’t disappointed.

The scene opened with a group of people being shown around the village of Eggshelia and The Egg, which we are told has been in the same place for a number of years but if it is ever breaks the whole village would be drained of sunlight and happiness.

The tour guide, or Curator was played by Karen Rice, who I have to say I didn’t recognise one bit, not until she entered as Mystic Myrtle, a sort of Senna the Soothsayer, which people of a certain age with remember from the TV programme Up Pompei.

Karen was excellent, in both roles, as the Curator she was able to deliver the lines and song and then as Myrtle she was even better and the audience loved her.

Tommy Tucker is the son of Mother Hubbard, who runs the local bakery in the village, Tommy was played by Stevie Comer, who I understand was playing her first role which she did with ease. Each time she entered the stage the energy levels went up about ten notches, she certainly made me feel exhausted by the end of the show.

Another playing a first role, or at least his first dame role was Daniel Summers Jowett who was able to slip into the role with ease and the audience loved every minute of his performance.

Maddison Carney Williams was perfect in the role of Polly Flinders, she was able to fit easily into the role and make a great couple with Princess Melanie played by Lola Carney Williams and between them they gave very convincing performances.

In the title role of Humpty Dumpty we had Coral Carney who was able to deliver the goods to make a very entertaining eggsample of this iconic figure.

The King of Eggshelia is Old King Cole and Rodney Bussey was eggselent in this role, he was able to command the attention of his subjects as well as the love of the audience.

When King Cole enters the stage, he is heralded by his two soldiers, Sergeant Major Lock and Private Bolt, Lock was played superbly by Callum Davidson and Bolt by Leon Alexander who was perfect, he kept his character up all the way through the whole production, never faltering.

Of course no self-respecting panto is complete without some baddies and here we had a couple of really bad characters, Madam Miniver who tries to take over the village and the Crown of Old King Cole. Step up Karen Parkin who is normally in very different garb to the one she wore in this production but she was every bit at home and was more than capable of demanding the audience.

Miniver also has a hench man, Snivel who I have to say looked disgustingly perfect, the sleeves of his jacket had certainly been used quite well as his handkerchief, but not only that he was also perfect in the part, appearing more and more bedraggled at each entrance.

Mystic Myrtle has a plan to make a potion to get rid of madam Miniver but needs some ingredients which are in an enchanted area which is guarded by The Boggart, in the programme this was played by Andrew Patchett, however on Friday evening he was played by Callum Davidson who stepped into the role very easily, well done Callum.

The final character in this piece was The Golden Bird of Agradore, a sort of giant chicken played by Ashleigh Hellowell.

I wouldn’t generally mention the set but the one used here was made by the same cast who also performed on stage together with the Stage Manager, Bradley Pickles and it was absolutely brilliant, well done.

The costumes are also made by the team which also we up to the standard we have come to expect from this society who keep community theatre alive and well.

Congratulations to everyone involved.

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